A freeze in fees to kick-start careers

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Good news came last week for those finishing their Higher School Certificates (HSC), with the NSW Government announcing a fee-freeze on the majority of vocational courses and traineeships. While HSC survivors may be enjoying a well-earned rest or holiday for now, it’s only a matter of time before the future comes knocking. Those keen to launch their careers from 2016 are set to reap the rewards.

A range of initiatives are being made available to ensure students have options once they leave school. It is hoped the news will enable young people to access training that is not only high quality, but also affordable. Below are a couple of examples of how students will benefit from the recent announcements:

A cap on traineeship fees of $1,000

A $10 million investment for 2015 school leavers to “try before you buy” through free pre-traineeship and pre-apprenticeship courses

A $25 million to deliver 25,000 scholarships to students enrolling in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics related vocational qualifications

A $10 million investment for an additional 2,000 places for students to train for jobs to support the delivery of the National Disability Insurance Scheme

Wider access to subsidised training at the Foundation Skills and Certificates II and III levels (provided it is on the Skills List) for people with a prior qualification of a Certificate IV or higher qualification, enabling people to reskill for a new career

Free vocational education and training, for qualifications on the NSW Skills List, for people with a disability, regardless of whether it is a first or subsequent qualification.

More than 750 qualifications will be subsidised, making it a great time for people to build their skills. You can check out what courses are part of the NSW Skills List here.

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